Athena II
 
Comet Lift-Off  
40" x 30" oil (1992)  
© Alliant Techsystems Inc.  

The EER Systems' Conestoga launch vehicle lifts a Westinghouse Electric and Space Industries spacecraft into a low earth circular orbit from Wallops Island, Virginia. Thiokol's Castor® IVA/IVB and STAR™48 solid rocket motors provide both the boost and upper stage propulsion, respectively. The launch is part of the Commercial Experiment Transporter (COMET) program, the United States' first complete commercial space service for launch and recovery of microgravity experimentation.

Artist's Note: The caption reflects the 1997 timeframe.






 		 









 
Many of the ATK paintings are available as high quality lithographs through ATK Launch Systems, MS PUBS, PO Box 707, Brigham City, Utah 84302. While not normally available to the general public, the prints are available to military units, aerospace organizations and industry representatives. Reproduced with permission of Alliant Techsystems, Inc. Unauthorized use of this image is strictly forbidden.